I was wonder if some of the experts could weight in on my tackle list. Planing on going lightweight, don't want to take the hole kitchen sink and a just few time tested lures. Some pictures of what you take would be greatly appreciated. Here is what I take
Topwaters
-1 Rapala Skitter pop
-1 Rapala Skitter prop

Spoons
-6 3/4 oz little cleos
-weights+snap swivels

JIGS
-8 1/8 oz jigs
-20 1/4 oz jigs
-8 3/8 oz jigs
-8 1/2 oz jigs
-30 ,4 inch twister tails
-20 3.25 inch paddle tails
-10 ,5 inch twister tails

A few Spinners (3-ish)
-1 deep tail dancer
-2 Rattle Traps
titanium or fluorocarbon leaders
Extra fluorocarbon line

Do you think this would be enough tackle for a ten day trip?
NEW AND IMPROVED LIST from the help of others
-Thanks for any input

I target Walleye and Lake Trout mainly But I like to catch some bass and Pike. Any bass experts on go to tower lures or others? would tubes be worth bring or just stick with the grubs?

Ten days or ten years?

Sounds like a lot to me.

What time of year are you going?

Your list looks solid but I rarely use a jig over 1/4 oz. I would ditch the heavy jigs in favor of some 1/8 and 1/16 oz models. If you’re going late summer and need to get super deep I suppose that wouldn’t apply.


I much prefer the skitter pop to the jitterbug but that’s just a matter of taste.


My number 1 bass lure would be the wacky rig. Absolutely lethal weightless in shallow to mid depths. Works well on a drop shot if you have to go deep.

Thought I went light weight but I guess not. It all fits into a Plano 3500 weatherproof box think it is 9” by 5”. What would you recommend instead of what I am Taking.

-Thanks for the help

Thanks tarnkt for the advice. Normally go Later in the season so like slightly bigger jigs. Not sure how you can get away with 1/16 oz jigs seems to light to me. What color skitter pop do you like then why do you prefer it over the black jitterbug.

Thanks for the tips

Thanks tarnkt for the advice. Normally go Later in the season so like slightly bigger jigs. Not sure how you can get away with 1/16 oz jigs seems to light to me. What color skitter pop do you like then why do you prefer it over the black jitterbug.

Thanks for the tips

Personally, I think you could use some trolling lures. A tail dancer, husky jerk or jointed Rapala would be very useful. I've never gone solo before so I don't know how that would work with trolling, but it can be nice to toss a line out when moving from point A to point B. The Little Cleo's would work as well in this situation but are better for trout than walleye.

That does seem like a lot of jigs though. That's about a pound and a half of just jigs. I don't do too much jig fishing myself, but I can't see anyone going through that many jigs. Especially when you have similar weights that could be used as a replacement if one runs out. Maybe if you do a lot of shore fishing and tend to loose a lot of jigs in the process, but why not just hop in the canoe instead?

Thanks A1t20 for the comment. Think I accidentally posted the wrong amount of jigs... normally I take
-8 1/8 oz jigs
-20 1/4 oz Jigs
-8 3/8 oz jigs
-8 1/2 oz jigs
If Im going early in the season usually double the amount of 1/8 oz jigs later in the season around fall I double the amount of 3/8 oz jigs. Normally tend to prefer Spoons because I can fit more of them in a smaller package and less drag then the tail dancer when trolling. But might have to take a few because of their versatility in begging able to catch Walleye any colors you recommend for walleye and Lt. I CHANGED THE LIST on top based on some of your recommendations.

Trouthooker: "I target Walleye and Lake Trout mainly But I like to catch some bass and Pike. Any bass experts on go to tower lures or others? would tubes be worth bring or just stick with the grubs?"

I have an article on smallmouth topwater fishing, if you would like to read it email - queticomike@yahoo.com - request smallmouth topwater article.

Trouthooker: "Thanks tarnkt for the advice. Normally go Later in the season so like slightly bigger jigs. Not sure how you can get away with 1/16 oz jigs seems to light to me. What color skitter pop do you like then why do you prefer it over the black jitterbug.


Thanks for the tips
"

I guess if you’re not taking bait you can skip 1/16 oz. But they are deadly in 10 feet or less tipped with a leech when the wind is down.

The skitter pop has always been a confidence lure for me. I only gave the jitterbug a couple lazy efforts based on some recommendations but I never had any luck with it. It is entirely possible (probable even) that I’m just not working it right. As far as color goes I don’t think it matters with topwater poppers so all I ever throw is the natural minnow pattern.

Might have to give in and get some 1/16 oz jigs and give your method a shot, sounds deadly. Are you more of a live bait person or artificial? Fun to pick the brain of a amazing angler and get some very effective strategy’s. Next time I’m up in the BWCA in the spring I will for sure be utilizing your tips.

-now I just have to wait for the ice to melt :)

I would definitely take some if the QueticoMike's Zulu rigs. (Do a search on here if your not familiar.) Lightweight and will catch any species. You can also add a bullet sinker, if you need to get the bait deeper. One jerkbait will last you a long time. Just make sure to check and retie your line as that will wear out before the plastic will. They will even catch crappies if you find them.

I agree with tarnkt on the Skitter Pop. I prefer those and Pop R's over Jitterbugs. Not sure why, they just work better on the smallies up there for some reason. I also agree with A1t2o on bringing some body baits. Rapala Husky Jerks are deadly in the Quetico on all four of the big species. I like to troll- it allows you to cover water and learn the area more quickly. Fire Tiger or the Blue Orange are my go to's. Rapala Shad Raps are also good for the same reasons, but they'll go a little deeper. Really there are a lot of different body baits that will produce up there- Bombers, Flicker Shads, Flicker Minnows, Deep Jr. Thundersticks, Wally Divers, etc. They've all had good days for me. Hope that helps.

I do a lot of trolling on my solo trips. Little Cleos, Taildancers, Husky Jerks, Rippin' Raps ... I've got pike, walleye and lakers on them, with the occasional smallie. So maybe a fire tiger Rippin' Rap would be a good addition.

Hard not to put a Whopper Plopper on the list as well. I love throwing that thing from camp after the sun sets and getting a good jump when something nails it in the dark. Suppose that would work with a popper as well, but the WP has been devastating.

Trouthooker: "Might have to give in and get some 1/16 oz jigs and give your method a shot, sounds deadly. Are you more of a live bait person or artificial? Fun to pick the brain of a amazing angler and get some very effective strategy’s. Next time I’m up in the BWCA in the spring I will for sure be utilizing your tips.


-now I just have to wait for the ice to melt :)
"

I bring 3 Plano trays of lures and a few pounds of soft plastics. Then proceed to jig a leech most of the time. It’s just my favorite way to fish and super effective.

Regarding the amazing angler statement you must be referring to somebody else ; )

CoffeeInTheWoods: "I do a lot of trolling on my solo trips. Little Cleos, Taildancers, Husky Jerks, Rippin' Raps ... I've got pike, walleye and lakers on them, with the occasional smallie. So maybe a fire tiger Rippin' Rap would be a good addition.


Hard not to put a Whopper Plopper on the list as well. I love throwing that thing from camp after the sun sets and getting a good jump when something nails it in the dark. Suppose that would work with a popper as well, but the WP has been devastating."

Agree totally with the Whopper Plopper. It’s a beast of a topwater bait. You can chug it, burn it, steadily retrieve it, or retrieve & pause. It’s just magnificent. I’d take a few of those.

Whopper Ploppers are super fun. At $13+ a pop they're not so fun to lose...don't ask me how I know

I don't leave home without safety pin jig spinners. They attach to the jigs you are already bringing. Tip them with plastic minnows - I usually use Powerbait 2.5-5" depending on what I am targeting. I catch anything from bluegill to musky/pike on them. Great for casting around all the fallen trees and rocky current. They are cheap so you don't mind losing a bunch.

I've found it's not so easy to jig fish when solo unless there's very light wind conditions. I will jig in boulder fields or if I find a reef. I troll the majority of time with crankbaits usually. Tail dancers down to 30' then other cranks in the 10-20' range.

I also like the skitter pops. The last few years I have taken whopper ploppers. Caught small northern on the surface along with an 18" largemouth in North Bay of Basswood with the Whopper Plopper.

Safety pin spinner baits for shallow weedy bays. My breakdown is like 8 jigs, 4 surface plugs, 10 crankbaits, 3 safety pin spinners. I'll carry extra plastic for the jigs as well. This pic was taken before a solo trip about 4-5 years ago. I've found that those "lure keepers" with the velcro are great for holding safety pin spinner baits. Also, I use plastic electrical tape boxes to hold titanium leaders. It's a good idea to put a rubber band around it to keep it closed. I keep all that stuff in a tiny cordura mini duffel about a foot long. The lures all fit in a plano box.

TomT: "I've found it's not so easy to jig fish when solo unless there's very light wind conditions. I will jig in boulder fields or if I find a reef. I troll the majority of time with crankbaits usually. Tail dancers down to 30' then other cranks in the 10-20' range.


I also like the skitter pops. The last few years I have taken whopper ploppers. Caught small northern on the surface along with an 18" largemouth in North Bay of Basswood with the Whopper Plopper.


Safety pin spinner baits for shallow weedy bays. My breakdown is like 8 jigs, 4 surface plugs, 10 crankbaits, 3 safety pin spinners. I'll carry extra plastic for the jigs as well. This pic was taken before a solo trip about 4-5 years ago. I've found that those "lure keepers" with the velcro are great for holding safety pin spinner baits. Also, I use plastic electrical tape boxes to hold titanium leaders. It's a good idea to put a rubber band around it to keep it closed. I keep all that stuff in a tiny cordura mini duffel about a foot long. The lures all fit in a plano box.



"

But what do you do if you catch something over 6’?!

CoffeeInTheWoods: "

But what do you do if you catch something over 6’?!"

That tape actually got rusted and I could only pull out 3 feet or so so that's how it ended up in my tackle box. :) It's funny how we change and evolve our style over the years.

TomT: "

CoffeeInTheWoods: "

But what do you do if you catch something over 6’?!"

That tape actually got rusted and I could only pull out 3 feet or so so that's how it ended up in my tackle box. :) It's funny how we change and evolve our style over the years.

"

Preloading the zmans onto the hooks is interesting. Is that just a space-saver or is there another reason?

CoffeeInTheWoods: "

TomT: "

CoffeeInTheWoods: "

But what do you do if you catch something over 6’?!"

That tape actually got rusted and I could only pull out 3 feet or so so that's how it ended up in my tackle box. :) It's funny how we change and evolve our style over the years.

"

Preloading the zmans onto the hooks is interesting. Is that just a space-saver or is there another reason?"

It's just a time saver. The less detail work to do with fingers in a canoe the better. :) In hindsight it's probably better not to do that for hook tying reasons. Live and learn.

TomT: "


"

There's 2 Berkley Flicker Shads in the middle row here. It's a high confidence lure for me as I seem to take a lot of fish when trolling them. However - they have very poor hooks. If you have these, I would change out the hooks before using again. I lost something massive on Sunday Lake in Quetico 2015 with this. I had pressure on and was trying to work up a very large fish in deep water. Then the line pulls free. I thought it broke but it turns out one hook on the back treble just snapped off or pulled out somehow. There was now 2 hooks on the treble. I was a little pissed. So it pays to invest in good quality hooks for those lures.